Compositions for prevention and treatment of infections caused by coccidia in chickens

Abstract

The invention refers to anticoccidial compositions consisting mainly of yolk immunoglobulins derived from eggs of hens immunized with one or more Eimeria species. The invention refers also to the use of said anticoccidial compositions for prevention or treatment of coccidiosis. The administration of immunoglobulins, both in liquid as well as in powder or pellet presentation, decreases mortality, lesions, oocysts counts and increases weight gain of receiving animals.

1. A composition comprising 0.1-1 kg of concentrated anticoccidial yolk per ton of chicken food, wherein the concentrated anticoccidial yolk comprises immunoglobulins against  E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella  and  E. brunetti  in order to diminish the severity of lesions, decrease the caecal weight and decrease oocyst count in feces of chickens, and wherein the concentrated anticoccidial yolk is obtained from yolks of eggs produced by hens which are immunized with  E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima  and  E. brunetti  to provide immunization against  E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima  and  E. brunetti.    
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said hens are immunized with a mix comprising 39 parts of  E. tenella,  29 parts of  E. acervulina,  16 parts of  E. maxima and  16 parts of  E. brunetti.    
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said hens are immunized with oocysts or sporozoites or merozoites of  E. tenella., E. acervulina., E. maxima  and  E. brunetti.    
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said chickens are broiler chickens. 
     
     
       5. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the anticoccidial yolk comprises immunoglobulins having a neutralizing titer of 1:16-1:128 as measured by a micro-neutralization test. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1-0.5 kg of concentrated anticoccidial yolk per ton of chicken food. 
     
     
       7. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the immunoglobulins are combined in the following percentages:
 25-90% of immunoglobulins against  E. tenella,    
 up to 35% of immunoglobulins against  E. acervulina,    
 up to 20% of immunoglobulins against  E. maxima , and 
 up to 20% of immunoglobulins against  E. brunetti.    
 
     
     
       8. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentrated anticoccidial yolk is in powder form and is admixed with the chicken food. 
     
     
       9. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in pellet form. 
     
     
       10. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentrated anticoccidial yolk consists essentially of immunoglobulins against  E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima , and  E. brunetti.